Irish pubs in Phnom Penh

What we say:

If you’re looking to get to a taste of the Emerald Isle, Phnom Penh has a few Irish pubs in town to sate you. Other major Asian cities such as Bangkok may be teaming with Irish drinking establishments, but Phnom Penh only has a handful of Irish pubs. None of them serve Guinness draught, although there are a few other Guinness options for those who enjoy the stuff, including the 7.5% Asian variety and the widgeted cans from Ireland.

Beyond the pale at Paddy Rice.

Without further ado, let me present Phnom Penh’s Irish pubs:

Quealy’s

A hole in the wall, Quealy’s is a relaxed place that doesn’t bill itself as an Irish pub per se, but it’s run by an Irishman who also tends the bar so if you’re looking for a bit of banter without leprechaun imagery, this is the place to go. Frequented mostly by expats, Quealy’s features lots of top-shelf spirits and whiskeys and they make flame-grilled burgers and hot dogs in the evenings. They also show rugby and football matches, and occasionally open at off-hours for particularly important matches. Quealy’s also claim to have the largest bourbon selection in Cambodia, and I’ve no reason not to believe them.

Located across from the National Museum, Rory’s is an Irish bar, restaurant, tattoo parlour and guesthouse rolled into one. The menu is mainly Khmer, but they do offer an Irish stew and Guinness and beef pie. The original owner, from Dublin, seems to have left the place in the hands of an American, but the leprechaun and shamrocks out front and selection of more than twenty whiskeys should satisfy those who are looking for an Irish pub fix.

The corporate Irish pub of the bunch, Paddy Rice is a riverside bar, restaurant and guesthouse that appeals to visitors looking for Irish fare. They serve Irish stew, fish and chips, shepherds pie and Guinness and steak pie and have specials every day in addition to a weekly Sunday roast. They serve widgeted Guinness which is said to be decent for those who like the stuff, although apparently no Jameson, a mysterious oversight. Paddy Rice features a weekly quiz night and live music on the weekends.

About the author Lina Goldberg
Previously, Lina has been based in Oakland, California, New York City, Dublin and London. Lina spends most of her time thinking about food, travel and synthpop. She's currently based in Siem Reap.